NFL Playoff Bracket 2012: 5 Reasons Giants Shock Packers at Lambeau

Call me crazy, but there is a strong possibility that the Green Bay Packers are going to go winless in the first eight months of 2012.

The New York Giants are banging on the door and here are the five keys to knock it down:

1. Deadly Pass Rush

The Giants never had a consistent pass rush during the season because of the nagging injuries to Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

Now that both are healthy, they have combined with Jason Pierre-Paul to register 13 sacks in the past three must-win games and have stuffed the run with ease.

Against a depleted Packers secondary, the Giants will be chasing Aaron Rodgers out of the pocket for the majority of Sunday afternoon.

2. Superior Run Game

It’s no coincidence that the G-Men started rolling once Ahmad Bradshaw got healthy. His speed combined with the power of Brandon Jacobs make the Giants one of the most versatile running teams left in the postseason.

Finishing dead last in rushing during the regular season is completely misleading at this point. The team collected 172 yards on the ground against a Falcons team that was a top 10 unit against the run coming into the game.

The Packers are dealing with an injured James Starks and a back in Ryan Grant that has never been the same since last year’s devastating injury.  All the pressure is on Rodgers and the passing attack that features a hobbled Greg Jennings.

3. Horrific Packers Secondary

No team gave up more yards through the air than the Packers this season. Charles Woodson isn’t fast enough to make the gambles he attempts to pull off anymore and the loss of Nick Collins early on has proven to be costly.

Sure the Packers offense is tremendous, but the pressure is on Aaron Rodgers to keep putting up points knowing that the Giants are going to feast on Green Bay’s overly aggressive unit.

4. Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks

The duo has turned into the deadliest combo in the NFL. Cruz was top five in yardage this season and Nicks is coming off a 115 yards and two TD performance in which he absolutely dominated a solid Falcons secondary.

These two are red-hot and not a single Packer will be able to take them down in the open field. I expect at least one TD of 70 or more yards from this duo, especially with a quarterback in Eli Manning that has the guts to consistently air the ball out down the field.

5. Giants Playing With House Money

New York needed to make the playoffs to save the job of Tom Coughlin and keep the heat off Manning.

Mission accomplished and then some by winning the first ever playoff game for both at MetLife Stadium.

Now the pressure is off and any additional wins at this point is gravy. The Giants are going to be much more relaxed than a Packers team that has incredibly high stakes on the line.

If they lose, the entire season is a failure. The ability of Rodgers would be questioned. The first Super Bowl would be considered a fluke.

Everything we think we know about the Packers would be altered. This would be one of the biggest disappointments in the history of the league after such an incredible 15-1 regular season.

No pressure.

In what is the most evenly matched game of the weekend, the Giants pull off the biggest upset of the season.

Prediction: Giants 30 Packers 27

NFL Divisional Round (all times EST):

Saturday 4:30: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

Saturday 8:00: Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

Sunday 1:00 PM: Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Sunday 4:30 PM: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers